Watch cleaning machine



Nov. 10, 1936. LE y B TT 2,060,277.

, WATCH CLEANING MACHINE Filed Feb. 19, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l I a 32 INVENTOR I I I I 4 BY A TTORNE Y Nov. 10, 1936."

000000 0 000000 0000000 oqooooooo oopooooo ooaopo p6 O 000 do 0o eeeeeooooooo LE ROY BUTTS WATCH CLEANING MACHINE Filed Feb. 19; 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 LNVENTOR 0MP? Bum ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 10, 1936 v UNITED STATES PATENT OFF-ICE WATCH CLEANING momma Le Roy Butts, San Francisco, Calif. Application February 19,1935. Serial No. 7,195 11 Claims. (c1; 141--1) This invention relates to improvements in watch cleaning machines of the electrically operated type. I

An object of my invention is to provide an im- 5 proved electrically operated watch cleaning ma- 15 ceptacle for securely holding the various parts of a watch while the basket is being rotated in the solution, and means for setting up currents in the solution which are directed through the basket, thereby materially assisting in the rapid 2 cleaning of the parts of the watch.

a machine of the type characterized, embodying novel locking means for releasably maintaining the basket in an elevated position out of the solution holding receptacle within which it normally rotates.

A still further object of my invention is to provide an improved machine of the kind charac- 49 through the solution holding receptacle, showing the basket in elevation;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken centrally 45 through the basket;

Fig. 5 is a section taken on the line 5'-5 of Fi 4; i Fig. 6 is a top plan view of one of the trays located in the basket; 50 Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken centrally through the tray illustrated in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a top plan of another of the trays; and Fig. 9 is a vertical section taken through the tray illustrated in Fig. 8. 55 Referring to the drawings the numeral i desig- A further object of my invention is to provide natesa suitably shaped base structure having a variable speed control member 2 mounted thereon for regulating the flow of electrical current ordinarily supplied by a conductor 3 from a source of supply to the operating motor of the machine. 5 The upper surface of the base structure is provided with a circular flange 4 having a cork or rubber pad 5 positioned therein upon which rests a receptacle or jar 6 for holding a solution used in cleaning the parts of watchesor other objects. 10

Secured to the base structure i is a pedestal 1 having the lower end of a curved lever arm 8 pivotally mounted thereon. The lever arm is provided with a forked end within which an electrical motor 9 is clamped or otherwise suitably l5 retained. The lever arm is shaped so as to hold.

I the motor 9 in an operatingposition wherein its short shaft I0 is vertical but at the same time eccentrically positioned with reference to the jar 6.

Secured as by screws II to the lower end of the motor housing, but spaced therefrom by tubes l2 which surround the said screws, is a cover l3 adapted to fit over the top of the jar 8. The inside of the cover is provided with a cork or rubberwasher M which prevents the escape of the cleaning solution when the said cover is clamped upon the top of the jar, the said washer being held in its proper position by a flanged disc l5 secured to the cover by the screws H. The 39 shaft IU of the motor eccentrically extends through the cover and the disc and is secured as by a set screw l5 to a hub member l6. Suitably secured to the upper side of the hub member 16 is a deflector plate I! having an upturned periphery which is located in close proximity to the disc l5 and which serves to prevent arrv of the solution splashed upwardly from passing through the motor shaft openings provided in the cover and the disc. The hub member 6 at its 40 lower side is provided with a threaded protuberance it having a washer i9 thereon which bears against the underneath surface or" a cone shaped hood 2E! and maintains the latters top edge firmly against a shoulder on the hub member. The said washer is held against the hood by the upper of two nuts 23. The hood 2! is provided with a plurality of circularly arranged punched out tongues H which are adapted to set up a downwardly moving whirlpool or current in the solution during the normal operation of the machine. The hood is also provided with a. series of circularly arranged holes 22 through which the solution may freely pass in a downward direction. Suitably clamped between two nuts 23 screwed on the protuberance l8 of the hub member, is a wire screen 24 the outer extremity of which contacts with the underneath side of the hood 20.

The hood is provided with a depending peripheral threaded flange 25 upon which is screwed the threaded outwardly protruding upper rim 26 of a perforated basket 21. The bottom of the basket is provided with a perforated bottom 28 having secured to its top surface a three way wire member 29, the ends of which pass through and extend slightly beyond the wall of the hasket. Detachably hooked onto the basket 21 by means of notches 30 engaging with the protruding ends of the wire member' 29, is a multiple compartment wire screen tray 3i having a depending central part 32 which provides a compartment particularly adapted to contain the balance wheel and hair spring of a watch. The inside of the tray 3l is divided into a plurality of compartments by partitions 33, and overlying the depending central part 32 of the said tray is a door 3|, hinged at 35 and locked by a slidable member 36. The inside of the 'basket 21 is provided with a series of wire screen trays 31, one resting on top of another as illustrated in Fig. 4. The inside of one or more of the trays 31 may be divided into a plurality of compartments by one or more partition members 38, as illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9. The various wire mesh trays divide the interior of the basket 21 into a plurality of compartments within which the numerous parts of a watch or other small objects may be securely held while the said basket is being rotated in a cleaning solution normally located in the jar 6. The basket 21 being eccentrically disposed with respect to the jar 6 gives a whirlingmovement to the solution, but at the same time prevents it from following a definite path against the side of the said jar. The eccentric position of the basket with respect to the central axis of the jar causes the solution to pass through the basket and thereby free the watch parts or objects located therein from particles of dirt or other foreign matter. During the rotation of the basket, which may be at high speed if so desired, a downward current is set up by the inclined tongues 2| acting as blades operating against the solution. The downward current passing through the basket and around the various watch parts or objects located therein, materially assists in the cleaning operation.

So asto maintain the cover I3 in a sealed position upon the top of the jar 6, I have provided the pivoted end of the lever arm 8 with a V- shaped notch which forms a projection 8' and against the underneath side of the said projection a protuberance 39 located on a pivoted spring pulled locking member 40 is adapted to press in an upward direction. The locking member 40 is pivotally mounted at points intermediate its ends on the pedestal 1, and a spring 4| pulling on its lower end urges the protuberance 39 upwardly, thereby causing the lever arm 8 to be pressed downwardly so the cover I3 is securely held in a position upon the jar whereby the solution therein is prevented from escaping. So as to hold the arm 8 in a position whereby the cover I3 is raised above the jar 6 (as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 1), I have provided a notch 8a on the upper side of the projection 8', and by pulling the locking member 40 outwardly and then allowing it to be moved inwardly by the spring ll after the lever arm has been raised, the protuberance 39 is allowed to enter the ml 8a and thereby releasably maintain the arm in a position with the cover raised above the jar. A drip cup 42, held in a support 43 attached to the pedestal 1, serves to catch any of the solution falling from the cover l3 or basket 21 when they are moved to an elevated position above the jar. It is to be noted that by having a short shaft III for the motor 9, the vibration accompanying the operation of the machine is reduced to a minimum.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention shown and described herein is subject to various changes in regard to form, shape and minor details of construction. It is also apparent that the machine constituting the present invention is particularly adapted for use in cleaning objects of various kinds whether they be watch parts, jewelry or the parts of complicated instruments or devices. For these and other obvious reasons it is understood that the appended claims shall define the limits my invention may assume rather than the exact disclosures herein made.

What I claim is:

1. A machine for cleaning articles comprising a jar, a supporting structure, a pivoted lever arm pivotally mounted on a horizontal axis provided on the supporting structure, the said arm being adapted to move upwardly and downwardly about its axis, a motor mounted at an end of the arm, the said motor having a shaft, a cover for the jar carried by the arm, and a basket secured to the shaft and means engaging with the arm for urging the arm in a direction whereby the basket may be held in the jar and the cover held on the jar.

2. A machine for cleaning articles comprising a jar, a pivoted lever arm mounted on a horizontal axis and adapted to move in a vertical plane, a motor mounted at an end of the arm, the said motor having a shaft,-an article holding basket secured to the shaft, a cover for the jar carried by the lever arm, and spring means for urging the lever arm in a direction whereby the cover will be held firmly against the top of the jar.

3. A machine for cleaning articles comprising a jar, a pivoted lever arm mounted on a horizontal axis .and adapted to move in a vertical plane, a motor mounted at an end of the arm, the said motor having a shaft, an article holding basket secured to the shaft, a cover for the jar carried by the lever arm, and means engaging with the arm for urging it in a direction whereby the basket is held in the jar and the cover is held on the jar and for holding the lever arm in a raised position whereby the cover and the basket are supported in an elevated position above the Jar.

4. A machine for cleaning articles comprising a base having a pedestal thereon, a solution receptacle supported by the base, a lever arm pivotally mounted at one of its ends on a horizontal axis provided on the pedestal and adapted to move vertically about its pivot toward and away mounted at an end thereof on a horizontal axis on the said structure, a solution receptacle mounted on the structure, a rotatable basket carried at the free end of the lever arm, means carried by the arm for rotating the basket, a non-rotatable cover for the receptacle carried by the free end of the lever arm, and means supported on the pedestal for urging the lever member in a direction whereby the basket may be held in the receptacle and the cover on the jar.

6. A machine for cleaning articles comprising a support, a solution receptacle on the support, a lever arm pivotally mounted on a horizontal axis attached to the support, the said lever arm being adapted to'move in a vertical plane, a rotatable basket carried by the lever arm and adapted to be positioned in the receptacle, means carried by the said arm for rotating the basket, a

cover for the jar carried by the said lever arm,

and spring means on the support for urging the arm in a direction whereby the basket may be held in the receptacle and the cover may be positioned on the said receptacle.

'7. A machine for cleaning articles comprising a support, a lever arm pivotally mounted on a horizontal axis attached to the support, the said arm being adapted to move in a vertical plane, a solution holding receptacle, a rotatable basket carried by the lever arm and adapted to become positioned in the receptacle, means carried by the said arm for rotating the said basket, a cover for the receptacle carried by the said lever arm, means on the support for urging the arm in a direction whereby the basket may be held in the receptacle and the cover may be positioned on the said receptacle andior holding the arm in a raised position whereby the cover and basket are elevated above the receptacle.

8. The combination comprising a supporting structure, an arm pivotally mounted at an end thereof on the structure, a solution holding receptacle, a rotatable basket and a cover for the receptacle carried by the 'free end of the arm, means on the free end of the arm for rotating the basket, a projection at the pivoted end of the said arm, and a spring pressed pivoted member engaging with a certain side of the projection for urging the arm in a certain direction, whereby the basket may be held in the receptacle and the cover may be positioned on the receptacle.

9. The combination comprising a supporting structure, an arm pivotally mounted at an end sides of the projection of the arm, the said lever member being adapted to urge the arm in a certain direction when it engages with a certain side of the projection and when it engages withthe opposite side of the projection it is adapted to urge the said arm in the opposite direction..

10. A machine for cleaning articles comprising a support; an arm pivotally attached to the support, a solution holding receptacle, a'rotatable basket carried by the arm and adapted to become positioned in the receptacle, means carried by the arm for rotating the "basket, a cover for the receptacle carried by the arm, and means connected to the support for urging the arm in a direction whereby the basket may be held in the receptacle and the cover may be positioned on the receptacle.

11. A machine for cleaning articles comprising a support, an arm pivotally attached to the support, a solution holding receptacle, a rotatable basket carried by the arm and adapted to become positioned, in the receptacle, means carried by the arm for-rotating the basket, a cover for the receptacle carried by the arm, means connected to the support for urging the arm in a direction whereby the basket may be held in the receptacle and the cover may be positioned on the receptacle, and for holding the arm in a raised position whereby the cover andthe basket may be held in a raised position away from the receptacle.

LE ROY BUTTS. 

